The best ESTJ careers, productive side-hustles, and hobbies worth going for are contained within this post. Most sites and blogs have a boring list of careers that could probably fit any type… 

Not here. 

I’ve gone ahead and personalized your type for the best jobs that fit. Not all will fit for you, but consider some of them as paths to take. 

As an ESTJ you care about the deep issues, desire social change at a macro and micro level, and want to selflessly spend your time on what matters most. 

ESTJ Intro 

I want to share a brief overview of the ESTJ type, but feel free to skip down to the best list of ESTJ careers, side hustles and hobbies this side of the interwebs. Otherwise, keep reading for a quick run down of what makes the ESTJ one of the best of the 16 personalities. 

ESTJ stands for Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging. 

The dominant function of an ESTJ is their Extraverted Thinking (Te) This is how they interact with the world around them and make decisions. ESTJs systematize and organize wherever possible to make sense of things. 

The secondary or auxiliary function of an ESTJ is their Introverted Sensing (Si). ESTJs use this auxiliary function to build their internal logic center by remembering details and experiences and then using this to expand upon their Te.

The ESTJ is similar to the ISTJ type except the cognitive functions are switched. Here’s how their main differences play out. 

In terms of career paths and work, the ESTJ does best in managerial or leadership positions. It can be tough at first to work under others, but hardworking and organized ESTJs usually find a quick way to the top. 

However, don’t be too quick to settle on the corporate lifestyle. ESTJs can rock entrepreneurship as well since you get to be in the driver’s seat. Just stay cognizant to the feelings and opinions of the members on your team. You need them just as much as they need you. 

For a more in depth look at the ESTJ cognitive stack and how it works, check out this page.

In general ESTJs:

  • Strongly believe in the rule of law and authority.
  • Love cold hard facts.
  • Are the abolustle last people you will ever find cheating on a test or lying on their resumes. 
  • Value honesty and trustworthiness above all other virtues.
  • Thrive on structure and organization.
  • Tend to be grounded in reality. 
  • Are slow to implement big changes, but watch out once they get going!
  • Put work before play, which can lead to an out of whack work life balance
  • Are task-oriented go-getters.
  • Tend to be confident in the work they do, but need clarity from time to time to ensure the correct life direction. 
  • Usually rise to the top of any organization or can be found creating their own empire.
  • Can be abrasive though their intentions are normally well meaning.
  • Struggle with outside the box thinking. They prefer to get thoughts and ideas back into the box as quickly as possible.
  • Their directness is a strength as it leads them to get stuff done, but it’s possible to leave worthwhile folks in the dust with unintended consequences (This is why we need complementary types.)

Go here to take a free test to determine a starting point to figuring out your type (but read other type descriptions too if you aren’t confident in your score). Quickly browse the career list on that site, but come back here for a better look into how your type affects the changing landscape of jobs in our millennial age. 

ESTJ Careers

ESTJ careers General

The hard working, organized, and committed ESTJ looks for a career in which they can give their all without following others. Find a way to pave your own path. 

As with all careers, don’t consider any of them a dead end. Knowledge gained can always be expanded upon. For each of the ESTJ careers below you could eventually turn them into a coaching business or make money with them online. The better you do and the more success you have the more people will want to hear how you did it. 

Let’s dive into this list of the top five ESTJ careers. 

1) Dentist

Successful dentists have to wear several hats, especially if they run their own practice. They have to merge their learned dentistry abilities with their leadership and team management skills. 

As an ESTJ, dentistry would give you the chance to help others, test your management strengths, and lead others to growth. 

See 15 Daily Habits of the Most Successful Dentists for more on becoming a successful dentist. 

2) Organization Guru

This might not seem like a real job at first, but people do make a living showing other people how to organize their home, office, professional life, etc. 

Since you thrive on organization and structure, look into gigs which let you utilize these strengths.

Here are seven blogs on the subject, but also look at this popular book by Marie Kondo for an example of someone who made it big in this industry. My wife also has a fantastic course on the subject of Decluttering here

3) General

You will commonly find ESTJs enlisted in the army. As with all ESTJ careers, they’ll quickly find their way to the top. Make it a goal to get all the way to the top and become a military general. 

4) Judge

If the military isn’t your thing, rule from an iron throne instead. It might not be as glamorous and satisfying as Judge Judy makes it out to be, but for someone that values law and order (and also being at the top of the pyramid) why not shoot for this career?

If you can make it past all the hard work and dedication to get to this level you could find a very rewarding career at the end. 

5) Wedding Planner

Planning weddings might be your thing. You get to do things on your own dime and your own time. Plus, you’ll get to be with people all the time AND get to enjoy some of the happiest moments of your client’s lives. 


Find more careers and take things to the next level with this three pack bonus. This 30 page resource guide includes everything you need to master your career, crush your side hustle, and find the perfect hobbies for your personality. Embrace your Myers-Briggs type and commit to learning more about how to maximize your personality with these resources:

☑️Purpose vs. Passion career amplifier to do better in whatever career you choose. Includes a list of 80 careers by personality type.

☑️A getting started guide for killing it with a side hustle (and 80 side hustle ideas with matching personality types).

☑️A Checklist of the best hobbies to check off your bucket list for every personality type.

?Sign up now and amplify your success in work, life, and beyond. ?

ESTJ Side Hustles

Let’s move beyond ESTJ careers, and check out side-hustles for the ESTJ type that fit. It’s important for all types to add a few side hustles to their portfolio? Why? Because even if you have a great job it’s not guaranteed it will be there forever. 

Now more than ever millennials are gaining money through side hustles. Even if it only supplements their main source of income, it’s always a good thing to diversify your income portfolio. Don’t spread yourself too thin, but take up something on the side to gain stability. We should always be building our assets so that we aren’t dependent upon any one thing. 

Here are five ideas for ESTJ side hustles:

1) Drive for Uber or LyftESTJ side hustles

This is a popular side hustle for anyone that enjoys driving, people, and making a little extra moolah on the side. 

I love how some of these part-time Uber drivers went above and beyond and made it worth their time. 

This side hustle won’t earn you huge bucks, and you probably have to at least like driving (I hate it so I won’t ever do this), but it might be something to try out for the ESTJ who loves people and enjoys being in charge of their own schedule. 

2) Answer questions on JustAnswer.

Become an expert in just about any topic might be fun for the ESTJ, but did you know you can get paid for it too? Websites like JustAnswer give website visitors answers to tough questions. Who answers these questions? You!

Topics range from animal care, law, wellness, cars, and more. It might take time to become an official expert, but if you enjoy learning more about these topics anyway, give it a try. 

3) Balloon Artist

Balloon artists get to have fun and make people’s days. It might not be the most lucrative of all side hustles, but it might be a fun side hustle, and you never know! 

Here’s how you can turn it into a business on the side. That post claims some people can make up to $125 an hour on the side making balloon animals and other art. Like all things, you have to be good in order to demand such a high pay rate, but people are willing to pay for high quality services and products. 

4) Sell Scrap Metal

Did you know you can sell scrap metal to the highest bidder? Yep, and all it takes is a willingness to dig through junk. 

Here’s a video from an entertaining guy on how to get started:

5) Selling on Ebay

Selling on Ebay is going old school, but people still do it and some have a lot of success. You can turnaround some of your own used items for cash, raid friends and family for their junk, or get an Ebay app to make it all easier. 

I don’t use Ebay for anything these days, but it’s still a marketplace people use. 

Also consider Amazon FBA like I shared for the ENTJ, Etsy, Merch by Amazon, or the new kid on the block Facebook Marketplace. 

Go here to download the side hustle success formula and other personality bonuses. 

ESTJ Hobbies

ESTJ hobbies

The best ESTJ hobbies involve taking a step back from being in charge and letting loose. You might consider attempting all five of these below or just take on one or two. Do yourself the favor of recharging your batteries.

Here are five ideas for ESTJ hobbies:

1) Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is a fun hobby of particular interest to ESTJs. Why? Because your a badass and rock climbing is not for the faint of heart. 

Here are some of the best rock climbing places in the world

2) Home Repairs

ESTJs tend to love running around the house finding things to fix. As a jack of any trade you undertake, your knowledge of how to fix things will come in handy.

When you run out of things to do at your own home consider helping a neighbor out too. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll only grow in your abilities. 

3) Gardening

ESTJs might find a love of gardening. My wife and I grow avocado plants, but I don’t do much of the caring as I’m not consistent enough to care for plants. I know, that’s sad, but she once went away and I didn’t water the plants at all… Whoops.

As an ESTJ you make a much better gardener than an INFJ with his head up in the clouds. 

4) Team Sports Captain

ESTJs love to lead, so consider forming a local rec sports team in your sport of choice. 

5) Surfing

Surfing is one of those things cool people do. I haven’t tried it and don’t really want to (water isn’t my friend), but go ahead and give it a try, it might be the perfect fit. 

Here are 25 reasons surfing is so popular

Want more? Download the full list of bucket list hobbies here


What are your favorite ESTJ careers, side hustles and hobbies? Share below! 😀